The Amazing Life of Azaleah Lane (Azaleah Lane)

This inaugural book in the Azaleah Lane series is a fast-paced and fun read, and Azaleah is a sympathetic, likable narrator who, like readers, is learning new vocabulary all the time. . . .Lobo's playful, full-color illustrations every few pages are just enough to give transitioning readers needed rests so they'll keep going. . . .Young readers will be happy to make Azaleah's acquaintance.

Gr 2-4--Azaleah thoroughly enjoys her class's visit to the Smithsonian's National Zoo. And she's even more thrilled when she gets a chance to create a diorama of one of the animal habitats she saw while there for extra credit. But things don't go according to plan when her younger sister's stuffed frog goes missing, and she has to spend much of the weekend helping to search for it. Can she solve the mystery of the missing frog and finish her diorama, or is she setting herself up for disappointment? This enjoyable chapter book revolves around Azaleah and her upper-middle-class African American household and the ups and downs of family life in a Washington, DC suburb. Azaleah works well as an appealing character full of zeal and enthusiasm. The bright, cheerful illustrations add to the book's appeal. VERDICT A good choice for libraries that need more light, realistic mysteries for the early middle grade crowd.--Heidi Grange, Summit Elementary School, Smithfield, UT

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